Vikings not ready to pick a starting QB just yet

Don't look for the Vikings' starting quarterback job to be decided any time soon.

Coach Mike Zimmer said Tuesday that it doesn't matter if many outside the organization want to rush it. He's not planning to do that.

Matt Cassel has been penciled in by many as the likely starter over rookie Teddy Bridgewater and Christian Ponder. But Zimmer, speaking on the first day of a three-day minicamp, isn't ready to call Cassel that.

"I've never said that. I know I've heard other people say it, but I've never said it," Zimmer said. "From the day I walked in here, I said I want tough, intelligent, smart football players and I want competition at every position. To me, we're still competing; everybody's still competing for jobs. ...

Cassel has been taking most of the first-team reps in practices open to the media, although Bridgewater got a fair share Tuesday. Bridgewater has been getting more second-team reps than Ponder, but Zimmer isn't ready to tip his hand on anything yet.

"We have to line them up somewhere when we go, but I don't look. 'This guy is the favorite,' or 'That guy is the starter,' " the Vikings' first-year head coach said. "(Cassel is) lined up with the first team right now, but I don't know. Once we get him in practice and games and the things that prepare us for games and for the season, that will determine who lines up there on September 7 (in the regular-season opener at St. Louis)."

The Vikings begin training camp on July 25. Zimmer, who is consulting with offensive coordinator Norv Turner, said there will come a time in camp when a decision will have to be made on distributing reps.

"Obviously, it's hard to get three (quarterbacks) ready, but Norv and I talked a little bit (Monday about) some of the things we're planning on doing as far as training camp," Zimmer said. "I want to give everybody an opportunity and make sure that it's a legitimate opportunity for all of them, and then we'll start narrowing down the reps as we get going.

But it won't be for awhile. The thing I want to guard against most is (making) the decision quickly as opposed to making the correct decision."

Cassel, for one, said he doesn't care when the starting quarterback is named.

"I don't think it really matters, to be completely honest," he said. "We're all out here trying to get better. I think the decision will come and ultimately you just have to go out each and every day, and you don't worry about that as a player."